The Hindu 15.03.2013
Municipal council to launch cleanliness drive
‘Those throwing garbage on roads will be fined’
M. Kurmarao, Commissioner of the City Municipal Council (CMC), has said that steps will be taken to keep the city clean and green by adopting a proper waste management system. Steps will be taken to ensure that all business establishments obtain licences, he said.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Thursday, Mr. Kurmarao said that as per the directions of the court and the government, manual scavenging had been banned and officers had been instructed to ensure that it did not take place. The municipal council had purchased equipment for the purpose and the public could make use of it by paying a fee, he said.
As dumping of waste material, including plastic bags, in public places was on the rise, arrangements had been made to collect garbage from all localities and people should utilise the facility. “The municipal council will impose a fine on those who throw garbage on roads,” he warned.
A large number of the 3,500 shops and small industries in the city limits had not yet obtained permission from the municipal council. Many others had not renewed their licences.
Deadline
It had been decided to initiate action against such shop and industry owners if they failed to obtain clearance from the municipal council within a fortnight, he said.
A ban on the use plastic bags of less than 40 microns was already in place. “Officers have been instructed to initiate action against those selling such plastic bags,” he said.
As Chitradurga could be developed into a major tourist destination, every citizen should cooperate with the officials in keeping the city clean and green. Shopkeepers should ensure that footpaths were free of encroachment, he said. There were plans to form separate committees of citizens in all wards to ensure cleanliness.
They would also be required to ensure quality of work wherever new schemes had been taken up, he said.
Mahantesh, manager of the municipal council, and engineers Chidanand Reddy and Wasim were present.
